(California)State tax increases should be accompanied by reform measures

The (New, liberal) San Francisco Examiner ^ | May 27, 2012 | Melissa Griffin

[Navy Patriot]

California has a “single-subject rule” limiting ballot propositions to just one issue. This is to reduce confusion and prevent massive proposals from being enacted.

Thus, it’s no surprise the tax increases on this November’s ballot do not also contain government-reform measures. But there’s nothing stopping the backers of these proposals from endorsing companion legislation designed to soften the burning revulsion that so many people feel for state government, at least enough to allow one or more of the measures to pass.

In fact, I think that’s exactly what voters need to see before they agree to pay more taxes. According to a recent poll by the Public Policy Institute of California, only 56 percent of likely voters favor Gov. Jerry Brown’s tax increase proposal, with a 3.4 percent margin of error.

But while his tax proposal teeters on the edge of failure, Brown has decided the “companion” piece to his measure is a shotgun blast right through state education and services funding in the form of $6.1 billion in “trigger cuts” if the taxes aren’t passed. While it’s true that trigger cuts not entirely aimed at education might be needed to deal with the revenue hole left by a failed tax measure, it’s simply not enough.

We Californians don’t expect our government to be perfect, but if it wants to get more money from us, we have a right to demand that it admit its structural problems and inefficiencies and begin to address them. We need to feel like the government understands that the party is over — that the new revenue won’t be wasted. We need a reform measure as a companion on the ballot.

[Navy Patriot]

California Governor Moonbeam Brown has successfully conned the CA electorate several times and has never actually run a campaign, or submitted an initiative that has not been disingenuous and/or bait and switch.

I agree with Melissa that state government fiscal reform is absolutely necessary, but I stipulate that the reform must be fixed in law and fully implemented BEFORE the approval of any new taxes, or it will never happen while Brown laughs at the suckers.

[pepsionice]

At best, I don’t see they survive past 2014, without massive federal aid. Maybe I’m wrong here...but state by state, I think the majority will refuse to agree on this, and there just aren’t any Republicans who would agree to fund the state. A bankrupt state? You have to wonder how it would function.

[umgud]

Californians are swirling the toilet bowl while their leaders are continually pulling the flush handle.

[EGPWS]

56 percent of likely voters favor Gov. Jerry Brown’s tax increase proposal,...

They don't have to even fight to take money from productive tax payers any more.

[dhs12345]

Funny how the reforms are always later and never happen. Read my lips (Dems and Bush 1) or I prefer “I promise to pay you Tuesday for a hamburger today.”

[EGPWS]

We Californians don’t expect our government to be perfect,...

That is quite obvious.

[Gaffer]

Sorry, I’ve written off California. I don’t care what they do now. Write it off to the Mexicans. I will, however, vociferously voice any bailouts, buyoffs, or monetary capitulations help keep it in the Union. They just don’t matter any more.

[Savage Beast]

"(California)State tax increases should be accompanied by reform measures"

Of course. Everyone with an IQ above 50 knows that.

But a majority of California voters believes (with the religious fervor typical of The Left) that "A MIRACLE WILL HAPPEN" and that either (1) the politicians in Sacramento will suddenly become fiscally responsible or (2) more likely and more to be rejoiced, they will discover a goose that lays golden eggs. (Don't bet on a long life expectancy of the goose.)

[unixfox]

Reform? Why waste the time?

[Freedom_Is_Not_Free]

What makes you think that 56% of likely voters pays high taxes or any taxes at all. I would bet that fully 40% of California likely voters pay no state income tax. Many of them probably receive WIC, food stamps, unemployment or other aid.

Half of all US workers pay no Fed income tax. The California state tax form BEGINS with your Fed adjusted gross incomes. No Fed tax = no California state tax.

I would not say the CA taxpayers are laying down without a fight. I would say the CA taxpayers are overwhelmed by the moochers on the dole who pay no taxes.

We are past the tipping point.

Don’t laugh, the USA is a decade or 2 behind us and will pass the tipping point as well.

[marsh2]

Vote no on tax increases for ANY reason. I think the government needs to realize the well is dry.